Animal-Assisted Therapy and Psychology

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We’re very pleased to have so many of our clinicians trained in EMDR, including Magdalen, Anna & Michelle, as well as a dedicated EMDR therapist in Nina. However EMDR is still a relatively new treatment modality, and can sound more like science-fiction than an evidence-based trauma therapy, so Nina and I put together this article to explain a little about EMDR and how it can help keep the past in the past.

Danielle GraberClinical Psychologist & Director

EMDR – leaving the past in the past …..

A woman, let’s call her Nancy, comes to a counselling session because whenever her partner or boss becomes irritated with her, she gets overly upset. Nancy has a memory of being age 10, when her alcoholic step-father poked her with his finger whenever he criticised her. Now, when Nancy feels criticised, it’s almost like she is that helpless 10-year old again. Sometimes it’s like she even feels her step-father’s finger poking at her shoulder.

This is just one example of how trauma from an earlier adverse experience can impact on us in the here and now. When a past trauma is triggered by a current event, our adult brain shuts down and we can start to think and feel like the trauma is happening all over again. Any event that overwhelms our ability to cope can create a trauma reaction that stays with us into adulthood. Some of the adverse events that can lead to a trauma reaction include; neglect, abandonment, death of a parent, divorce, family violence, sexual abuse, serious medical illness, disability, war, natural disasters like fires or floods, violence, serious accidents or injury.

We may wonder why do I startle every time I hear a loud noise, a rustle in the bushes, a certain piece of music or even a smell? This is the trauma brain at work, constantly on the lookout for further trauma. It is quite separate from our wise and adaptive adult responses. Calming the trauma response and strengthening the adult ‘wise’ mind is where counselling, in particular EMDR and other trauma therapies can help.

Eye Movement, Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, was designed to disconnect the painful, emotional responses in the present from those past memories and traumas. It was first discovered in the late 1980s by Dr Francine Shapiro, an American psychologist, who serendipitously discovered EMDR during her famous “walk in the woods”, where she noticed that upsetting thoughts and feelings lessened when she sporadically moved her eyes from side to side. One of my colleagues and mentors in the United States jokes in his training workshops that the more likely version of the story is that Shapiro really discovered EMDR when she was in a Macy’s (equivalent to Myer or David Jones in Australia) car park looking frantically from side to side to find her car!

When a trauma or overwhelming adverse event occurs, it seems to get locked in the nervous system with the original picture, sounds, thoughts and feelings and this is why it can be retriggered in the present. The eye movements used in EMDR seem to unlock the nervous system and allow the mind and body to let go of the experience. Perhaps similar to the processing that occurs during REM (or Rapid Eye Movement) sleep.

For a lot of people who have experienced significant trauma though, the idea of actually consciously recalling the traumatic event can be utterly overwhelming in and of itself. What if someone doesn’t want to recall the memory or associated feelings, images or body sensations? That’s when the Flash Technique, developed in mid-2016 by Dr Philip Manfield, becomes important. The Flash Technique is used to help reduce the disturbance associated with painful memories without having to consciously recall the memory or re-experiencing the pain or distress associated with the trauma. This technique can be used as a preparation tool for EMDR or on its own.

While we don’t know the precise mechanism behind how EMDR works, the evidence is well and truly in that it does indeed work and work well.

In Nancy’s case, after a course of EMDR treatment, she described the past memories as more ‘distant’, and she could recall those memories without feeling small, belittled or defenceless. This improved her ability to assert herself and her needs and respond in the moment to criticisms without feeling overwhelmed emotionally or any unpleasant physical sensations (like that finger poking at her).

I for one feel very privileged to be involved in some of the amazing innovations that have made this possible and to be able to help clients unlock themselves from memories and traumas that have often haunted them for decades.

Another year, another season of Married at First Sight and another group of people in desperate need of some real therapy throw their emotional lives under a bus for their 15-minutes of Instagram fame. Call me a cynic and a killjoy, but it’s just so frustrating to watch these people, some of whom seem to have real emotional problems and mental health issues get toyed with for entertainment.

Of course you have to call me a hypocrite too, because I still watch it! But this year more than ever, it’s lost some of it’s guilty pleasure for me. Especially because it must make people wonder just what psychology is good for when so called ‘experts’ pair people up that would be lucky to survive a long elevator ride together, let alone a ‘marriage’.

So I’ve asked our child & family counsellor, Penny, to put some of her thoughts together on the ‘experiment’ that is Married at First Sight.

Danielle Graber

Well aside from the obvious questionable production choices (such as shamelessly sensationalising someone’s virginal status), there has been something else playing on my mind this season.

Almost all of the participants view marriage as the panacea to their life’s problems.

There’s no doubt in my mind that reality television purposefully uses “sob stories” complete with background orchestral strings in an attempt to tug at my heartstrings. The problem with MAFS, however, is that it touts an expert panel of mental health professionals at the helm. They are highly trained individuals who have an ethical duty to provide services that benefit, not harm. These psychologists, and their data (always with the data), sit down with the participants to discuss what has impeded their ability to have a successful relationship. They highlight their vulnerabilities, nod knowingly, and assure them that this experiment is the right fit for them. Despite hearing details about issues of trust, abandonment, childhood trauma or loss, they agree that it would be an excellent idea to proceed with the experiment and pair them up with a life partner who now has the task of fixing their new husband or wife’s problems.

Here’s a perfect example from a recent episode (before things got really intense between these two):

Following 28-year-old Ines crying to the experts about the loss of her childhood due to war and trauma, she says that she is guarded and pushes people away.

FLAG.

She hopes that “this guy” (remember, a complete stranger!) will be the one to make her feel safe enough to be vulnerable and create happy memories that she never got.

FLAG.

One of the “experts” says that Ines wears a mask to cover the pain for a troubled upbringing.

CORRECT. FLAG.

The other expert responds, “Ines wants love but she wants someone who won’t be scared off before they see the real Ines.”

READ: SHE IS SCARED. FLAG.

The apparent solution? Pair her with Bronson who is “calm, fun and strong” and who has also experienced significant grief and loss. Luckily, “he’s still so easy going” and his light-hearted nature will help break down Ines’ walls.

HMMM.

Yes, they may find common ground in their experiences but this is not the solution to unresolved trauma. What they’re essentially saying is, “If she can learn to trust him, this will be successful” and “It’s up to Bronson to fix Ines’ childhood trauma and resulting defences”.

WHOA.

And we all know just how well that turned out for both of them so far! 3 weeks later there’s been nothing but; verbal abuse, complete contempt and emotional infidelity.

I have to believe that given their training and skills, the MAFS experts would be acutely aware of why some of the participants have had difficulty committing to a serious relationship. I also have to remember that this is television and producers will do anything to boost ratings. In the real world, us “experts” would be encouraging these prospective brides and grooms to look inwards (through therapy, self-reflection, or organic supports) instead of seeking an external person to fix their issues.

Aside from my professional perspective on this, I am recently married following seven years of courtship with my now husband. I have learnt a lot about myself, been to therapy, identified my vulnerabilities, had support from my partner to work through them, and dedicated considerable effort to grow and develop as an individual. I cannot imagine going into a blind marriage with the “baggage” I carried throughout my twenties. It would have been completely unrealistic and unfair on a complete stranger to provide the validation I needed when therapy was absolutely necessary (and boy, did it work wonders).

Let’s just remember that MAFS is a bonkers experiment. There have been 33 ‘relationships’ and only one has succeeded beyond the show. I hope this season is different (sucker for love over here!) but it raises so many questions about what people are seeking through marriage.

What I do know is that it’s more than just having the right person plonked down in front of you. These guys could have been matched with their true soul-mates (if you believe in such things), but if they are not in a place to see it, accept it and work at it, there’s no amount of tropical honeymoons and Gold Coast getaways that are going to turn it into anything real.

Ah, this question. I’m not going to lie, I get it a lot. It’s okay, though, because I can answer it confidently and I can fully appreciate where a parent is coming from when they ask it. They are investing time, money, and energy into the process and I can only imagine that it seems like a very expensive game of Monopoly if they think that’s all their child does during our hour together!

However, I utilise Play Therapy in my sessions for a number of reasons.

First of all, using play creates a positive learning environment. This is important because the evidence shows that a child’s brain needs to be in a particular state for learning to occur. If a child is stressed, uncomfortable, or threatened with their therapist, their brain will be spending WAY more time finding ways to escape/avoid/lash out as a means of survival. I would rather spend time playing so that my client can pay attention to what I have to say as well have the brain capacity to think, share and process.

Secondly, children’s brains are hardwired to learn by doing, not talking. Play provides a crucial opportunity for a child to learn about themselves and about life lessons that can otherwise seem very arbitrary. For example, parents are always asking me how to teach their child empathy. It’s an incredibly vague and abstract concept for a child to grasp, so one of the best ways for a child to develop empathic tendencies is through play! This could include identifying someone who is disappointed when they lose, praising someone when they play well, or including someone who is being left-out.

Thirdly, it’s an important platform for teaching explicit social skills. Some children struggle to initiate play or do not know what to say or how to behave when playing with their peers. As their therapist, I can role model techniques and strategies for them to try out in their own world (and also highlight when maybe they are saying or doing things that aren’t so helpful!).

Let me offer some examples of how some games are helpful therapeutically:

Monopoly

Teaches responsibility such as through; handling money or in following complex rules;

Promotes delayed gratification as it isn’t a game that can be won quickly; and

Allows for disappointment when other players collect more properties or money than them.

UNO:

Deals with the influence of luck and relinquishing control;

Needs player to cope with frustration if turn is skipped or reversed or when given a +2 or +4; and

Builds confidence as it can be won without significant skill.

Bingo:

Requires patience as there is no winning along the way, just one winner at the end;

Discourages comparison, such as to other people’s boards or progress; and

Encourages player to focus their attention in finding items on their board.

Cluedo:

Promotes skill development in problem solving and strategy; and

Requires clear communication and trust in other game players.

Pop-up Pirate:

Addresses issues with anticipation or heightened arousal;

Provides opportunity to practice frustration tolerance; and

Allows for brief and passing moments of fear to feel less intense.

Ultimately, the very act of play, in a safe space and within a trusting relationship connects and refines important neural pathways. This is the crux of therapy as we are trying to strengthen connections in the brain that help the client to thrive and weaken connections that are less helpful. Play is rewarding and fulfilling so when I use it as a counsellor, I am confident that children are building positive connections to therapy and will more likely explore overwhelming thoughts and feelings with me, or even feel confident to problem-solve on their own.

Hi! I’m Penny, a Child and Family Counsellor and the newest addition to the 12 Points team!

Penny & Ralph (II)

I have worked extensively across the community, education and health sectors, developing a specialist understanding of ways we can practically and realistically support the mental health of our kids. And now, I’m offering my services at 12 Points to children aged 3-18 years and their parents.

I am committed to building the clarity, confidence and competence of parents in meeting their children’s social and emotional needs. My model of care prioritises brief-intervention and focuses on enhancing five key, evidence-based areas to give parents the tools they need to help their family to thrive from within, including permission to focus on their own wellbeing.

I strongly believe in the power of connection, so I have made the conscious decision to work with children and their families through the strengthening of relationships. When parents are struggling, the connection with their child can suffer. Without connection to their community and other families, parents can feel isolated and undervalued. In the absence of quality information and guidance about their child’s unique social and emotional development, parents are likely to experience guilt, shame and self-doubt. We all forget sometimes that kids don’t come with a manual!

An overview of how child & family counselling can work.

Take four-year-old Kayla* for example. Kayla’s mum, Sam, held concerns about Kayla’s anxieties and sensitivities and thus brought Kayla to meet with me, wanting to know if Kayla’s behaviour was “normal” or if Sam was doing something wrong and contributing to her daughter’s worries. Over a few sessions, I was able to make informal assessments about Kayla’s mental health and wellbeing, particularly her sensitivities. I prescribed some reading to Sam and her husband to try and help them appreciate Kayla’s individual needs. I also engaged Sam in some discussion about her own mental health, making sure she could take pride in her ability to be reflective and help-seeking with her parenting. It was determined that Kayla could benefit from some social skills training to boost her confidence and Sam agreed to participate in some parenting training with her husband, with content tailored specifically to their family dynamic. Almost a year later, Sam tells me that she and her husband are enjoying a more positive relationship with their daughter, and feel so much more prepared to deal with issues as they arise. Kayla’s mood has, as a result, been more predictable and positive.

This is the flexibility I have as a counsellor. I am not restricted by Medicare rules that mean I can only see the child or only the parent, or only see clients with a diagnosable mental illness. Instead, at each session, I can plan out and determine who should be in the room and why, ensuring that treatment is both cost and time-effective and adaptable to changing circumstances or emerging issues.

Another family, let’s call them The Burkes*, have engaged my support over the past five months and found this approach particularly beneficial. Mum, Catherine, reached out to me in desperation about her eight-year-old daughter’s daily meltdowns. I started by meeting Catherine on her own first in order to understand her concerns about Holly in more detail. Over the next 10 sessions, I met with Catherine and Holly together, Catherine on her own, and Holly and her Dad together, and prescribed between session activities that the whole family could engage in. Catherine reports Holly’s meltdowns are now very rare and she feels that she and her husband are more confident in their responses to Holly, which has reduced their own anxiety and made the whole household a lot more relaxed.

My beautiful schnoodle, Ralph, and I look forward to seeing you around the clinic and if you have any questions about whether my services could help you or your family, just speak to the lovely admin team!

You could say that I’ve always been somewhat of a worrier – not quite full-blown anxiety, but certainly a lot of stressing about the little things, needing to always consider contingency plans and dwelling on the worst-case scenarios.

I’ve been doing a little mindfulness practice the last couple of weeks, and I can personally report some excellent results. A few minutes a day of either guided mindfulness or some unguided time focusing on breathing and quietening the mind has injected some calm into my brain that I didn’t know it was capable of.

Petty annoyances have dropped away, complicated problems are easier to handle and I’m even being kinder to the people I encounter in my day, friends and strangers alike. Some familiar worry lines are still there in my thoughts, but it’s easier to recognise them for what they are and set them aside.

Where to start? ‘Start small’ is my recommendation, that’s what I’ve done. Download a free and straight-forward guided mindfulness app like Smiling Mind. No doubt your day is packed to the brim with stuff you have to do, but 5 minutes of one of the guided sessions will make the rest of the day that much more manageable.

The book Quiet the Mind (available for a browse in the Crown Court waiting room) is also a great starting point, and the documentary The Connection will get you thinking about the convergence of mindfulness and medical science.

So when we left Part I, Rory was going through her ‘rebellious’ phase and I was wondering if she had what it takes to be a therapy dog (and if we’d ever be able to leave the house safely again).

Destructo puppy!

At about this time I came across Lead The Way Psychology and Animal-Assisted Therapy (ltw.com.au), it was exactly what we’d been looking for! They specialise in training animal-handler teams for animal-assisted intervention work (including AAT). Psychologists, social workers, teachers, volunteers, anyone who is interested in working (or volunteering) with their dog in a therapeutic capacity, can apply for their 6-day intensive, introductory program.

The program covers; basic obedience and behaviour shaping as well as current research and theory into the benefits and techniques of AAI and AAT. And when they say intensive, they mean intensive!

Rory and I worked hard that week! But on the first day she went from a dog who would sit on command if she felt like it and hold it for as long as she deemed necessary (like most pets!) to a dog that would reliably sit on first command and stay there until released. It was astounding!

Rory and her friends holding a sit-step away.

They showed us video at the beginning of the week of a group of dogs all holding a drop pose in a large group under insane levels of distraction (ride on mowers driving past, squeaky toys being held in front of them, food being thrown on the ground around them) and told us that our dogs would be able to do that by the end of the week. We all laughed and looked at them like they were crazy, but by the third day, our dogs were holding drop for an hour at a time while we had a leisurely lunch right in front of them!

Holding a drop step-away over lunch.

And by the end of the week, sure enough, we knew how to hold their attention under all kinds of distraction!

Holding drop step-aways while Head Trainer Greg drives a tractor around them!

The initial training really strengthened the bond and the trust between Rory and I and she responded incredibly well to the Alpha training methods (alphacanineprofessional.com.au). The most important parts of the training, for me, were to see how Rory would react under stress and to help her develop the ability to work well and calmly under distraction. It’s so important to have confidence that at times when she does become overtired or overwhelmed that she will look to me for direction rather than try and figure her way out of it alone. That is often where problems can occur – a dog that doesn’t have that leadership from their owner/handler is much more likely to snap when an overenthusiastic child gets in their face, steps on their tail or hugs them tightly around the head (all of which has happened to Rory in sessions).

My new graduate!

Finally, it was time for our first day on the job – and while I’ve included a sneak peek picture of that below, we might have to leave the details for another time! Please tune in next month for the third and final instalment in The Evolution of a Therapy Dog!

The graduates from the April 2015 advanced animal-assisted therapy course.

When Rory and I completed our first training course in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) back in 2013, we joined a pool of 21 certified animal-assisted therapy teams who graduated that year and the majority of participants wanted to volunteer with their dogs in nursing homes or schools. The concept of working with animals in psychological settings was still quite new in Australia. Often, when I said I was an animal-assisted therapist, most people assumed that meant I was providing therapy to maladjusted Chihuahuas or socially awkward felines.

Cut to 2017 and AAT is being featured in major newspapers and on tv programs, absolutely flooding social media and online newsfeeds and there will be a grand total of 80 graduates from the Lead the Way Institute AAT course this year alone. At the recent Education Show, more than half of the people who came to speak to us about the programs we provide had heard of AAT and most wanted to know where they could go to get AAT training. However, disturbingly, a significant number also spoke about people they knew or worked with who were already bringing dogs to their workplaces (mainly schools in this instance) and didn’t I think that was wonderful?

The short answer is, no. No, I don’t think that’s wonderful at all. In fact, I fear it is a recipe for disaster and it compelled me to write this article in response.

Now, for those of you who are familiar with me, or with our work here at 12 Points Psychology, you know I am a passionate advocate for the wonders of AAT and am prone to proudly and loudly extolling its virtues whenever and wherever I can (hence the recent Education Show). However, I am also a passionate advocate for evidence-based therapy and maintaining the strictest health and well-being standards for myself, my clients and my animals. I fear that the recent (and primarily welcomed) upsurge in interest for AAT is creating a situation where the availability of qualified, certified, trained and assessed AAT teams cannot meet the demand. This in turn means that well-meaning but untrained therapists are stepping in to try and provide a (very popular) service, but without the proper training in place to ensure the health and safety of the practitioners, recipients and animals or the integrity of the therapy or intervention itself.

I don’t believe for a second that these practitioners are anything other than well-meaning and I know that they do care for their clients and their animals. But as the saying goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know” and I fear their lack of proper training means that many providers who decide to “just bring their dog to work”, won’t know how much they don’t know until it’s too late and someone has been badly hurt.

I have covered the work involved in certifying an AAT handler team in previous posts, which I invite you to look at here, so I won’t repeat myself, but what’s most relevant to this article, is that, aside from providing:

a solid theoretical foundation in the use of AAT,

an overview of health and safety concerns when working with animals

basic obedience training and

a network of other AAT providers for ongoing help, advice and support,

the training process in its entirety is crucial in establishing a trusting bond between the animal and handler and there’s no substitute for that.

It really doesn’t matter how sweet or docile a dog is under controlled, familiar conditions at home, what is of utmost importance is knowing how a dog behaves when it’s stressed and tired and subjected to poor handling or novel conditions.

What’s equally important is knowing how to recognise and respond to a problem before it arises. Because, no matter how careful we are with our dogs, clients can sometimes be inappropriate with them, either from exuberance or aggression, and at those times it’s incredibly important that we are able to read the dog’s body language and intervene to; keep the dog safe, keep the client safe and also preserve the therapeutic relationship.

I am the last person in the world to discourage anyone from exploring AAT. It is an enriching and engaging field that I am privileged to be a part of. But equally, I am also the last person in the world who can watch an accident about to happen without trying to intervene. It would be beyond tragic for all involved to see the practice of AAT sullied by an incident where a stressed out dog reacts against a client. Especially if that could so easily be prevented with the proper training and certification systems in place.

So for practitioners, if you’re interested in learning more about AAT, get in touch with me here at 12 Points Psychology, or Melanie Jones at Lead the Way Institute.

For consumers, believe me when I say, I understand the lure of a dog! And I know how much the AAT animals can add to the therapeutic environment and experience, but make sure your AAT provider has received proper training. At a minimum, they should;

outline their AAT work on their consent forms,

have policies & procedures in place for the use of the animals (including hygiene practices) and

they should be able to explain the purpose of having the animal in session with you.

The inclusion of animal-assisted therapy is an exciting development in the provision of psychological services and I want to ensure it’s a service that continues to safely grow in both popularity and accessibility. My only hope is that it doesn’t prove too popular for its own good. Because we want to keep providing this service for many years to come to as many people as possible. Rory for one wouldn’t have it any other way!

Two of our therapists enjoying the perks of working with trained therapy dogs, Jersey & Rory.

We found Rory when we were looking for our first dog and speaking to a breeder about different types of dogs and their temperaments and suitability for our house. Given we were going to be introducing a dog to a; relatively small backyard, 3 adult (and set in their ways) cats and a household where all the human members worked full-time (albeit staggered hours) we wanted to make sure we weren’t setting ourselves (and our new addition) up for failure.

Her suggestions fit with our online research: cavalier crosses love their people and are eager to please, but also don’t mind some alone time now and then. They tend to get on well with cats (especially when introduced to them early) and despite being lively, they don’t need masses of space as long as they get their regular exercise through walks and training. Looking at crosses meant we were more likely to avoid a lot of the health complications that sometimes come with purebreds.

The breeder said she had one puppy left from a ‘surprise’ litter. The puppy’s mum was a cavalier but they didn’t know who the dad was. The breeder thought it had been probably been a maltese or maltese cross. She was now 3-months old and had been sent to a pet store just that day, not far from where we lived. The breeder said she was a sweetheart. She was.

For the first few weeks she was probably equal measures bouncy and sleepy. And she did both all out! No holds barred!

As first time dog owners it was a sharp learning curve! Puppy school was invaluable and as it was run at our local vet’s it meant that Rory developed a (so far) lifelong love of going to the vet’s! Even after having surgery on a grass seed abscess (check out the bandage) and suffering the indignity of the thermometer on numerous occasions, she hasn’t lost her enthusiasm for the place and will drag us through the door if we’re not going fast enough!

Rory’s love of new people and places had us looking for ways to extend her socialisation and that took us to our first training school. Rory thrived and very quickly made her way up the levels.

But we found (as many do) that while she was brilliant during training classes and paid rapt attention while we had the treats in our hands, getting her to follow instructions or ‘the rules’ outside of class was a whole different ball game! This was the beginning of Rory’s ‘destructive’ period and nothing was sacred.

And while it was hard staying mad at that face – we realised we needed to do something more than basic obedience training if we were ever going to be able to leave the house unguarded!

I’d also started working with a therapy dog in my private practice and was wondering if it was something that Rory would be suited for. Certainly she would love working with the people, but could she be trusted to work around older clients without bowling them over with her enthusiastic greetings? Or sit quietly in a session with a rambunctious 6-year old and not get out of control herself?

Ok, obviously she could or she wouldn’t be on this page as a graduate, but tune in next week for Part 2 to find out how it all came about!

Grief is a universal and unavoidable experience for most of us. Considering it’s almost one of the few guarantees we have in a life that includes any kind of love, it’s amazing and sad how little it’s talked about and how isolated the grieving are left to feel, simply because people are so afraid of saying the wrong thing that they often don’t say anything at all.

This isolation and ‘foot in mouth disease’ is compounded when we’re talking about the loss of an animal friend.

For many of us, our furry, feathered and scaled companions are an integral part of our families and when we lose them we feel the pain acutely. Unfortunately, it’s not something that is readily or widely acknowledged and so our grief can get turned inwards and never completely heal.

Here at 12 Points Psychology, we’ve all been blessed to know many “soul-animals” over the years. You know, the dog, cat, rabbit, mouse, lizard or stick insect that found you at the right time in your life. The animal that became your friend, your companion, your touchstone and your confidante.

When I was 9-years old, that animal was Lucky. A stray black and white Tom cat who found me not long after my grandfather died. Lucky became my constant companion, he would follow me to the bus stop in the morning, sit with me, then turn and walk home once I was safely away.

He was a real gentleman and a fantastic judge of character, who chaperoned many teen dates over the years and was known to spray unsavoury suitors on occasion! Lucky survived two bouts with skin cancer to make it to a ripe old age and died after living a very loving and well-loved life, but 20 years on I still tear up thinking about him and his passing.

Anyone who has been lucky enough to have a relationship like this with a non-human creature, and then suffered the loss of this animal, knows the pain that loss can bring, even years later.

For this reason, we’re pleased to be able to offer a brand new service to our clients.

Anyone who has experienced the loss of a pet, either recently or in the more distant past and feels like they would benefit from some short-term counselling around this loss can call and take advantage of 1-3 sessions with one of our psychologists at a reduced rate. We hope this will provide access to a supportive and understanding service to help people process their loss and start their recovery.

If you’d like to take advantage of this offer, please give us a call on 0451-044-015.

A lot of people have concerns about letting a dog into their workplace. This is usually because they’ve had negative experiences in the past with dogs who didn’t have the benefit of the intensive AAT training that our dogs have completed.

Just to give you an idea of the difference between letting a pet dog come along to work and utilising our AAT dogs, this is the assessment we had to pass to qualify as an AAT animal -handler team through the Lead The Way training course.

Keep in mind this is only the introductory level (and Rory has now completed the advanced level training).

Another graduating class of AAT professionals

To earn their little blue jackets the dogs must be able to consistently and reliably complete the following exercises:

Perfect sit and sit step-away – minimum one minute under close distraction

Holding sit step away on a busy sidewalk

Recall – dog will come back to handler from a distance and under distraction (e.g., wanting to stay in the water!)

Drop and drop step-away – minimum 30 minutes with distraction and with handler out of sight for some of the time.

Rory & Jersey in a straight drop

Rory & another friend settling into a long drop

Heel and Auto Halt and Loose lead walking – dog walks calmly on lead and pays close attention to the handler without pulling and with minimal reinforcement

Boundary setting – dog will leave a desired object (e.g., food) on command and will not cross a designated physical boundary even if desired object is on the other side (and being eaten by a cat!)